But it does seem to be pretty straightforward that American designs on Afghanistan (permanent power projection in Asia) are at odds with Pakistani designs on Afghanistan (reliable regional ally and “strategic depth” in the event of a war with India) and that at the end of the day, Pakistan is forced to hedge its bets. Pakistan cannot be compelled to give up its reliance on the Taliban without a complete reorganization of Asian geopolitics and that means the nearly impossible combination of a defanged India and an isolationist America. Here’s how David P Goldman puts it:

“The government’s desultory campaign against pro-Taliban elements on the Afghan border comes down to Punjabis killing Pashtuns. To drive the Taliban in earnest out of the Pashto-speaking frontier in the Waziristan tribal areas would risk tearing the country apart. It is also the case that Pakistan wants the Taliban as a bulwark against India. But it is misleading to separate Islamabad’s foreign policy objectives from the requirements of domestic cohesion, since irredentist agitation against India is part of the glue that holds together a fractious and fanatical collection of tribes.”

Holbrooke and Mullen had to go to India to assure them that they had things in check with Pakistan.

The textile workers’ strike in Faisalabad entered its seventh day. Here’s an inspiring report from Farooq Tariq of the Labour Party of Pakistan:

“The strike of power looms workers in Faisalabad enters the seventh day. All factories are closed. Today on 27th July, women workers demonstrated in front of the district administration office. They were demanding an end of police harassment and raids at their homes. They also spoke against the open exhibition of arms by the gangsters in the workers localities. The top police officials had to agree to the demands of the women and children who had refused to leave the place before their demands are met. Over 100,000 workers are on strike since 20th July and over 20,000 factories are closed completely.”

The strike is primarily over pay, as textile workers make less than $70 a month. If the Pakistani textile workers could link up with their Bangladeshi counterparts who are also out on strike, it could change the face of global fashion.

Meanwhile, the debate about American aid to Pakistan is likely to heat up after the WikiLeaks announcement. The current aid package (which includes the construction of Reconstruction Opportunity Zones, or Pakistani maquiladoras) is stalled in Congress.